If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

When a Zen Priest Looses

I got by mail a used copy of "Crooked Cucumber: The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki." Really well written bio and interesting look into S. Suzuki's life.

As I read this book, it really brings it back to home that no matter how much you practice zazen and the precepts.....we are still very much human.

This really hit me when I got to page 197:

Kato always remarked how nothing ever bother Suzuki , but there were exceptions. Tobase's nephew used to come to Sokoji frequently to raid the kitchen, smoke, and chat in Japanese. As is common with people living abroad, he complained about his new country. Suzuki didn't like to hear petty complaints. One day in the office with Suzuki, Kato, and their good friend and temple elder George Hagiwara, the young Tobase was sitting on the couch going on about all the things that irritated him about America. Suddenly Suzuki leaped from his chair and slapped Tobase's face five times ( :shock: ), rapid-fire. Kato and Hagiwara were astounded. "There--that's what you get!" he said, "and if you complain more you'll get more!" Tobase was humiliated. He left and stopped comming. Two weeks later Suzuki called him up. "Hey, Tobase-san, why don't you come over? We have too much food here, and we miss you." So he started coming again.

Both the gates of Hell and Heaven are within us.

A samurai came across an old monk sitting by the city gate and asked:

"Master, tell me the difference between the gates of heaven and the gates of hell?"

The old master sniffed and said:

"Who are you to ask? You smell from not bathing."

"Somebody as filthy as you could not understand!"

The samurai was insulted by the old monk and started to draw his sword.

"Here, open the gates of hell!" said the old monk.

The samurai re-sheathed his sword.

"And here open the gates of heaven!" said the old monk.

In gratitude for the lesson, the samurai bowed deeply and went on his way.